Creating App Inbox Messages

To send App Inbox messages to your customers, you first need to get an authentication token and configure App Inbox for a website or mobile app.

After completing all settings, you can proceed to create App Inbox campaigns.

Creating a New Message

Go to Messages → Messages → App Inbox. Click the New App Inbox button.

Messages section with the Messages tab and New App Inbox button highlighted, showing a list of App Inbox messages

Main settings

Fill in the following fields:

  1. Name. The system name that the recipient will not see.
  2. Title. Brief information about main content message.
Main settings panel with the Name and Title fields highlighted next to an App Inbox message preview
  1. Text. The main content of the App Inbox. In the text formatting menu, you can work on the text styles, lists, links and check the number of symbols in your message.
Text field highlighted with formatting toolbar options, showing entered text and the message preview
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Important

If you apply text styles for an app inbox message, you will receive the message in the HTML format. You will need to parse the HTML message to display it correctly in the mobile app.

Use emojis in the titleĀ and text fieldsĀ to improve interaction and capture users' attention.

Emoji picker open next to the Title field with an arrow pointing to the emoji icon
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Note

One emoji takes up two characters. Keep this in mind when creating messages.

  1. Personalization. Use the dynamic variables to add a name, city, bonuses or any personal data available in the user profile. Click on the Personalization icon in the Text or Title field to select data.
Personalization field search dropdown highlighted showing Personal info and Other categories
  1. Link. The URL of the page to which the recipient should go when clicking on the body of the message (place without text links). Activate the switcher if the link should be opened in a new tab.
Link field highlighted with a URL entered and the Open link in new tab checkbox

Link settings in App Inbox messages are similar to those in email. You can enable or disable URL tracking, UTM tags, and add custom tags.

  1. Image. Add a logo for more brand awareness. Upload JPEG, PNG or GIF file up to 2 MB. You can also use a variable or a link to the image. Use only the https protocol for direct references in expressions.
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Note

You can edit the image directly in the editor when uploading (if it does not meet the requirements) or after uploading (the Edit button). After editing, the image is saved in PNG format.

  1. Tags. Select tags from the list or enter a new one and click Enter. Use tags to filter search results and set campaign frequency strategy.
Tags field highlighted showing promo and blog tags added to the message

Additional settings

Fill in the following fields:

  1. Custom data. You can create App Inbox messages using custom data in JSON format. Custom data can be applied to all language versions if used in a multilingual message. To do this, activate the Use custom data from the default language version for all versions switcher.
Custom data field highlighted with a JSON value and the Use custom data switcher toggled off

If the switcher is disabled, different custom data can be used in each language version.

Also, you can use dynamic variables to add data into the Custom data parameter: message name, first name, city, and so on. Click on the personalization icon and select the required.

  1. Subscription categories. Manage subscription categories to send messages to your contacts based on their preferences.
  2. Time to Live (TTL). TTL — the period after which the message will not be displayed, even if it's delivered and read. By default, it’s 1 day, but you can select other options.
  3. Links. Configure link settings for UTM tags. Learn more >
Additional settings section with Subscription categories, Time to live, and Links fields highlighted

Multilingual version (optional)

In our platform, you can create a multilingual version of any message. Click the Globe icon in the top panel, specify the default language and add language versions. Fill each version with the content in the corresponding language. You can switch between versions within one template in one click.

Top toolbar with the language globe icon highlighted for adding a multilingual version

Learn more about multilanguage >

Testing Message

You can test a message in two ways:

  1. In the message editor, click the TEST button on the top panel.
Top toolbar with the TEST button highlighted
  1. From the message list — open the menu with three dots to the right of the message name and select Send test message.
Messages list with the three-dot menu open and Send test message highlighted

Then, in a pop-up window, enter any customer identifier associated with your account.

Send test message popup with a search field and the Send button highlighted

If done correctly, App Inbox will be displayed in your Reteno account.

After all settings are done, click Save and exit to save the notification or Create campaign to go to campaign launching.

Creating Campaign

  1. When everything is ready, click on the Create campaign button.
Top toolbar with the Create campaign button highlighted
  1. In a popup window, choose segments or contacts for the campaign. Click Go to campaign.
Choose segments or contacts for campaign popup with a search field and the Go to campaign button highlighted
  1. On the general checkout page:
  • In the Segments section, click Recalculate contacts to see the total number of contacts that will receive the notification. You can also edit segments or select new ones.
Segments section with Recalculate contacts, Edit, and Select segments options highlighted
  • See all the necessary information for verification: Name, Subscription categories, Message activity time, Link. You can see how the App Inbox will look.
Campaign checkout summary showing message name, subscription categories, custom data, activity time, link, and a preview
  • In the Send options, you can set the batching. Click the Start immediately button to launch the campaign. For a delayed start, select the Schedule button and set the date and time of sending
Send options section with the batching dropdown, Test button, Schedule, and Start immediately buttons


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